Brewer's: Dagobert

King Dagobert and St. Eloi. There is a French song very popular with this title. St. Eloi tells the king his coat has a hole in it, and the king replies, “C'est vrai, le tien est bon; prête-le moi.” Next the saint complains of the king's stockings, and Dagobert makes the same answer. Then of his wig and cloak, to which the same answer is returned. After seventeen complaints St. Eloi said, “My king, death is at hand, and it is time to confess,” when the king replied, “Why can't you confess, and die instead of me?”

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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